ALAN FINE-- ANOTHER FINE REPUBLICAN WHO NEVER MOLESTED ANY YOUNG BOYS-- JUST LIKES TO BEAT UP WOMEN

Last month my old pal Isaac in Minneapolis updated us on the exciting race Keith Ellison is running there. I asked Isaac to keep an eye out for developments there and he sent me this today:

Well, one of the most interesting races in the country just got more interesting.

Seems Keith Ellison's Republican opponent Alan Fine has a domestic abuse arrest in his background.

Alan Fine made his first real headlines right after the Minnesota primary election last month that saw Keith Ellison handily beat his Democratic challengers and become the Democrat's candidate for the being vacated by US Representative Martin Sabo. Alan was the only one the Republicans could find to donate his body to what is sure to be a crushing defeat last month. Alan ran right out and starting announcing how disgusted he was that someone with ties to the Nation of Islam would run for Congress.

And that's about all he's been known for around here, at least until now.

I doubt Keith's campaign will try to capitalize on this news--so far, he has run a squeaky clean, issues-oriented campaign. He can afford to, since he has a very good record of visibly and vocally standing up for progressive causes in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Alan Fine can't attack Keith on his record, so he has to focus on Keith's personal life and religious affiliation.

But it looks like Alan can't do even that now, since details of his own life aren't making him look any too good.

It's too early to tell for sure what the effects of Alan Fine's arrest will be. But now the question seems to be Which would you rather have represent you in Congress: A Muslim who has demonstrated time after time that he has your best interests in mind, or a "family values" wingnut
that likes to slap the little woman around? [Sounds like a cross between Republican incumbants Randy Kuhl in NY and Don Sherwood in PA, two wingnuts who also thrive on beating up women.]

Now of course, Alan is quick to point out that the record was expunged, and I will leave it to you whether or not you think that exonerates him. But I will say that it looks glaringly obvious this leaves Alan with no ammunition to use against Keith. Sure Keith has had some indiscretions, but now we know Alan has also.

One difference is that no one was injured as a result of Keith's indiscretions (unpaid fines, etc.) but Alan can't say the same. Instead of harping on Keith, now Alan gets to spend all his time ducking
questions his own behavior. And Alan Fine can't re-direct the focus onto his own ideas, since he doesn't appear to have any.

So once again, the one hollering loudest about "values" is the one with the most to hide. Turns out holier-than-thou Alan Fine isn't holier than anybody.

And this comes out right at the time that the GOP is desperate to put out the fires of the Foley pedophile scandal and the failure of its "values-loving" leadership to do the right thing. There's a kind of silver lining for Alan Fine though--if he somehow does make it to Congress (like if Keith suffers a massive, fatal coronary before election day), he's a cinch to make it to the top of GOP leadership.

Alan Fine is not even toast--he's that nasty tasting black crap you scrape off of toast when you leave it in the toaster too long.

-Isaac Peterson